Posted to the web 23 July 2008 Senegal's adoption today of a constitutional amendment confirming that Senegalese courts can prosecute past crimes against humanity lifts any legal obstacles to the trial of former Chadian dictator Hissène Habré, Human Rights Watch said today. Habré is accused of massive crimes during his 1982-1990 rule before he fled to Senegal. In July 2006, the African Union mandated Senegal to "prosecute and ensure that Hissène Habré is tried, on behalf of Africa, by a competent Senegalese court." Senegal has yet to initiate a prosecution, however. In February 2007, Senegal passed legislation permitting it to prosecute cases of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and torture, even when they are committed outside of Senegal. Today's amendment makes clear that the law applies to such crimes even when...
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